The blind leading the blind.

My friends and I have this rotating potluck and party of general inebriation that we host at each other's houses. These are a bunch of NYC artists, filmmakers and grouchy old mathematics professors.

They have seem my facebook posts about tea stuff and want me to bring some puerh.

OK, so what do I bring? I really want them to like it because it would be amazing if we could have tea as a part of this party too, right now my tea friends are a separate bunch from this crew.

These are people who have probably had maybe starbucks tea and that's the most fancy. (though I do think two of them went to Japan and had matcha and liked it, they are well traveled) the good things is they are adventurous and capable of slowing down and noticing the finer things in life.

The bad thing is I'll have to choose and make all of the teas and I have no idea what I'm doing.

Here is what I have at my disposal (in large enough amounts to share):

I do have some time to make an order (it's in about two weeks) so I could buy something, but I'd like to have had the tea myself a few times before the party so I could talk about it and brew it properly.

That said, do any of you have a regular tea gathering in your life?

Last edited by futurebird on Mar 15th, '13, 16:40, edited 1 time in total.

Love it. You know there's something off when the vendor steps into the thread unaware of a tea that he sells

futurebird,

I'd pick the tea that you best know how to brew and that is appropriate for your crowd. Going out on a limb to serve a tea you aren't familiar with may not be so wise, and you may end up kicking yourself afterward for serving a tea that will not be fully appreciated by others (when you no doubt would have appreciated it on your own and had the time/patience to learn how to brew it properly).

Just my opinion. Best of luck entertaining your guests and be sure to let us all know whatever you end up deciding and how it goes.

They were really impressed with how time can change a tea. I essentially told them that the 90s tea was what the Meng song would become in the future (obviously it isn't that simple) -- of the 8 people I had about 4 who got really in to it. The others seemed to like it, but at the same time didn't seem that impressed.

I did the best simulation of gong fu that I could. I did not have enough tasting cups, that was the biggest problem. But they were very interested in the way that I warmed/washed the cups and used the "tiny pot."

I made a huge mess on the tray, it seemed like too much a hassle to bring this:

...along since it weighs a ton... but next time I might need to do that... scratch that, next time they are coming to my place.